Local official sacked after desecration of Jewish cemetery in Poland

The local conservator in the eastern Polish city of Siemiatycze was dismissed after the desecration of the local Jewish cemetery.

Construction work carried out at the beginning of December on the grounds adjacent to the Jewish cemetery in Siemiatycze uncovered human remains likely from the cemetery. The chief rabbi of Poland, Michael Schudrich called it “the worst desecration of a Jewish cemetery” that he has seen since assuming his post 17 years ago.

Andrzej Nowakowski was dismissed from his position last week at the request of the General Conservator in Warsaw, Magdalena Gawin, who serves as under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

The remains were unearthed earlier this month during work to modernise the power grid for the city of Siemiatycze. The ground where the remains were uncovered is adjacent to the fence of the Jewish cemetery.

The case is being investigated by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Siemiatycze. The bones were handed over to the Rabbinical Commission for Jewish Cemeteries in Poland.

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